Jan. 30, 2010

Box Score

HUDSONVILLE, Mich. - For the first time in their last 10 games against rival GVSU, the Panthers found themselves on the losing end as they fell 5-2 on Friday night. It also marks the first ever win over DU for the Lakers in their own building as they are now 1-7 since 2004 at Georgetown Ice Center.

The annual "Cross Town Clash" series resumed on Friday night for the third matchup of the year between DU and GVSU, but it was the solid play of the GV netminder and timely goals that turned away the Panthers 5-2.

The Lakers got things started with only 7:00 to play in the first as they scored a power play goal to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. DU outshot GVSU 12-11 but neither team had many great opportunities until the extra man goal.

Again in the second the defense seemed to be on top of things for both teams but Davenport finally got on the board when Matt Morang (Dearborn, Mich.) tipped in a long shot off the stick of Sean McWhorter (Lansing, Mich.) to tie the score.

GVSU struck right back just 1:28 later to go ahead by one and added a 3rd goal at the 3:11 mark when DU made a costly error in their own zone with a turnover right in front of their own net.

Opening the third period with a 3-1 lead, the Lakers packed in the defense and stopped numerous scoring chances for the Panthers right away and then made the most of another turnover deep in the DU defensive zone to take a commanding 4-1 lead with just over 15 minutes to play.

The Panthers kept up the offensive pressure and cut the lead to 4-2 when Kevin Brojek (Sterling Heights, Mich.) got a great feed from Adam Thomas (Kentwood, Mich.) and Morang.

The score though was not enough as GVSU would eventually add an empty netter with less than 10 seconds to play to earn their first victory in the series since October 13 of 2007.

The loss drops DU to 22-13 on the year and 7-2 in league action. The two teams will resume the rivalry on Saturday night at Patterson Ice Center beginning with a 7:00 PM face-off.